Taylor Roe and Gabija Galvydyte Qualify for NCAA Championships in Final Day of West Prelims

Wednesday, May 25

Fayetteville, Arkansas

All Day

Oklahoma State University

NCAA West Regionals

Taylor Roe and Gabija Galvydyte Qualify for NCAA Championships in Final Day of West Prelims

May 28, 2022 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – Oklahoma State outdoor track & field wrapped up competition at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Saturday in style, qualifying two more athletes to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Taylor Roe continued her historic sophomore season in the 5,000 Meters, breezing through her semifinal in 15:53.21 to clinch her spot in the final in Eugene. Roe sat in the rear of the pack for the first couple of laps before exploding to the lead with roughly eight laps remaining. There was no looking back after that point as she continued to extend her lead through the finish. She will look for her second national championship of the spring after winning the indoor national championship in the 3,000 Meters.

"Taylor has been great all year," Distance Coach Anna Thorp said. "She ran smart, stayed out of trouble in the middle of the pack and did what she needed to do to move on."

Earlier in the night, Gabija Galvydyte ran the best race of her collegiate career in the quarterfinals of the 800 Meters, setting a new personal record and winning her heat with a time of 2:02.90. Galvydyte hung right behind the leader before taking the lead on the back stretch and holding off the field for a qualifying spot. It was the first time in her collegiate career breaking under 2:03 in the 800 as she heads to Eugene with momentum.

"Gabija ran poised and smart," Thorp said. "She made all the right moves and walks away with a huge PR. I'm excited to see what she can do in Eugene."

OSU advances eight athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships with three on the men's side and five on the women's side. Roe and Galvydyte join Bailey Golden and Olivija Vaitaityte (Heptathlon), Alex Maier and Gabby Hentemann (10,000 Meters), Ryan Smeeton (Steeplechase) and Ryan Schoppe (1,500 Meters) in Eugene.

The NCAA Outdoor Championships run June 8-11 and will be broadcast across ESPN's family of networks.

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